Real estate investor Mark Meadows, in a runoff for the GOP nomination in North Carolina's 11th district, picked up the endorsement of Rep. Patrick McHenry (R-N.C.) today. Meadows, a strong candidate with support from the tea party and the establishment, faces businessman Vance Patterson in the July 17 runoff.

“Mark Meadows is the only true conservative Western North Carolinians can count on to fight President Obama’s assault on our values,” McHenry said in a statement released by the Meadows campaign. “Mark is a conservative businessman willing to challenge the status quo in Washington and fix this broken economy. I strongly urge those who want less government and more conservative solutions to send Mark Meadows to Congress.”

McHenry represents the neighboring 10th district.

The winner of the GOP primary in the western North Carolina district is the favorite to win the general election against the Democratic nominee, Hayden Rogers, the former chief of staff to retiring Rep. Heath Shuler (D-N.C.). The newly configured 11th is the most Republican district in the Tar Heel State.